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Chapter 3
157
God could do to preserve the honor of His law, and still save the
transgressor. Why should man not study the theme of redemption?
It is the greatest subject that can engage the human mind. If men
would contemplate the love of Christ, displayed in the cross, their
faith would be strengthened to appropriate the merits of His shed
blood, and they would be cleansed and saved from sin (
The Signs of
[1133]
the Times, December 30, 1889
).
(
1 Corinthians 2:2
;
Colossians 1:20
.) Light From the
Cross
—Without the cross, man could have no connection with the
Father. On it hangs our every hope. In view of it the Christian may
advance with the steps of a conqueror; for from it streams the light of
the Saviour’s love. When the sinner reaches the cross, and looks up
to the One who died to save him, he may rejoice with fullness of joy;
for his sins are pardoned. Kneeling at the cross, he has reached the
highest place to which man can attain. The light of the knowledge
of the glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ; and the
words of pardon are spoken: Live, O ye guilty sinners, live. Your
repentance is accepted; for I have found a ransom.
Through the cross we learn that our heavenly Father loves us
with an infinite and everlasting love, and draws us to Him with more
than a mother’s yearning sympathy for a wayward child. Can we
wonder that Paul exclaimed, “God forbid that I should glory, save
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”? It is our privilege also to
glory in the cross of Calvary, our privilege to give ourselves wholly
to Him who gave Himself for us. Then with the light of love that
shines from His face on ours, we shall go forth to reflect it to those
in darkness (
The Review and Herald, April 29, 1902
).
Love Is Stronger Than Death
—Jesus placed the cross in line
with the light coming from heaven, for it is there that it shall catch
the eye of man. The cross is in direct line with the shining of the
divine countenances, so that by beholding the cross men may see
and know God and Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent. In beholding
God we behold the One who poured out His soul unto death. In
beholding the cross the view is extended to God, and His hatred
of sin is discerned. But while we behold in the cross God’s hatred
of sin, we also behold His love for sinners, which is stronger than
death. To the world the cross is the incontrovertible argument that